Binx Bolling (John “Jack” Bickerson Bolling)
Binx Bolling, the protagonist, is a New Orleans stocks and bonds broker who is approaching his 30th birthday. Many of his family and friends call Binx “Jack.” Binx is a Korean War veteran who survived…
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Aunt Emily Cutrer
Emily is Binx’s formidable, wealthy great-aunt, who is 65. After Binx’s father’s death, she oversaw Binx’s upbringing and education. In her youth, Emily was a rebel, entering social work and serving overseas with the…
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Kate Cutrer
Kate is Aunt Emily’s stepdaughter, Jules’s daughter, and Binx’s step-cousin. She is five years younger than Binx, making her about 25 in the story. She has been shy and sensitive since childhood…
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Uncle Jules Cutrer
Uncle Jules is married to Aunt Emily and is Kate’s father. He and Emily met when he was a widower and she was serving in Europe with the Red Cross. He is pleasant, wealthy…
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Anna Castagne Bolling Smith (Binx’s mother)
Anna is Binx’s mother. After Binx’s father died, she returned to work as a nurse. She then married Roy Smith and had six more children with him. Binx visits her at the family fishing…
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Lonnie Smith
Lonnie is Binx’s 14-year-old brother, the eldest of his younger half-siblings and Binx’s favorite. Lonnie is disabled and uses a wheelchair; he and Binx get along well because Binx doesn’t pity Lonnie. A devout…
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Sharon Kincaid
Sharon is Binx’s current secretary, originally from rural Alabama. Binx quickly falls in love with her, as he does with all of his secretaries. She is a fast learner, competent in her work, and…
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Mercer
Mercer is Aunt Emily’s Black butler. He has worked for the family since Binx’s grandfather’s days in Feliciana Parish. Since moving to New Orleans with Aunt Emily, Mercer has changed his speech to…
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Walter Wade
Walter Wade, an attorney and former Tulane football manager, is Kate’s second fiancé (the first being Lyell Lovell). He is originally from West Virginia and attended a New Hampshire prep school and then…
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Lyell Lovell
Lyell, Eddie Lovell’s brother, was killed in a car accident a few years ago. At the time, he was engaged to Kate Cutrer. Kate describes him as a good man, but she was…
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Mrs. Schexnaydre
Mrs. Schexnaydre, a widow, is Binx’s landlord. She sometimes lends Binx her copy of Reader’s Digest, and they sometimes watch TV or attend a movie together. Mrs. Schexnaydre has lived in New Orleans…
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Minor Characters
Eddie Lovell
Eddie Lovell is an acquaintance of Binx’s. Eddie is married to Nell, and his brother, Lyell, was killed in a car accident a few years ago. Eddie is a jovial, self-confident businessman.
Scott Bolling
Scott Bolling is Binx’s older brother, who died of pneumonia when Binx was 8 years old.
Marcia
Marcia is Binx’s former secretary, whom he dated for a while.
Vince Sartalamaccia
Vince is a real estate developer who purchases Binx’s inheritance, a parcel of swampland that used to be worthless but has surged in value.
Roy Smith
Roy Smith is Binx’s stepfather, Anna Castagne Bolling Smith’s husband, and the father of their six children. He is a car salesman who enjoys bayou fishing.
Harold Graebner
Harold Graebner was Binx’s old war buddy who lives in Chicago; Binx and Kate visit him during Binx’s Chicago conference. Binx credits Harold with saving his life in Korea. Harold is a simple, good-natured man who enjoys making money. He invites Binx to be his new baby’s godfather.
Nell Lovell
Nell is the wife of Binx’s friend Eddie Lovell. She is an energetic empty-nester who takes philosophy courses and renovates houses as a hobby. Binx finds her uncomfortable to talk to because she’s so earnest and animated.
Sam Yerger
Sam is an old Bolling family friend from Feliciana Parish. Sam is a cultured man and an acclaimed writer who occasionally passes through New Orleans on lecture tours. Kate likes and trusts him, but she turns him down when he proposes during one of her crises.
Dr. Merle Mink
Dr. Merle Mink is Kate’s doctor.
Harry Stern
Harry Stern is Binx’s college chemistry lab partner. Together they worked on a project involving kidney stones in pigs. Harry did most of the work because he was able to focus on the project at hand, while Binx would get distracted by his environment.
Duval Smith
Duval Smith is Lonnie’s younger brother (and Binx’s half-brother) who drowned the year before the book is set. After Duval’s death, Lonnie became the eldest of the Smith children.
Uncle Oscar Bolling
Uncle Oscar is Binx’s uncle. A country storekeeper, he isn’t as sophisticated and cultured as the other Bollings, and this especially shows in his awkward opinions and inappropriate humor.
Aunt Edna Bolling
Edna Bolling is Uncle Oscar’s wife and Binx’s aunt. She is sympathetic and emotional.
Joyce
Joyce is Sharon’s attractive roommate.
